• Application
• Required Documentation for all Music Applicants
• Audition Information
• Audition Requirements
• Audition Dates
• International Applicants
• Notification of Decision
• Other Requirements
• Final Steps

• Application - The School of Music encourages all applicants to submit an online application.
• The application for admission must be completed in full.
• Applicant signature is required along with the parent signature if the applicant is under the age of 18 at the time of application.
• Mail the application to the Office of Admissions along with the nonrefundable application fee ($60 for U.S. Citizens/Permanent U.S. Resident/$110 for international applicants).
• Applications received without the application fee or all questions not answered will be returned to applicant.
• Applicants are encouraged to submit their application by the suggested application deadline to secure the audition date they desire and allow time for travel arrangements.
• All required documentation must be on file in order for the applicant to find out if they have been accepted by the Admissions Review Committee into the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Application Information in Admissions

• A resume detailing the applicant’s artistic experience and educational objectives. Include the names of private teachers, their address, and number of years you have studied with each individual.
• Repertoire list (title and composer).
• Audition repertoire (title and composer).
• Recommendation Letters:
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation are required.
    • One (1) letter is to come from an arts instructor
    • One (1) letter is to come from an academic instructor.
  • All letters are to be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions to be placed in
    
    
• Transcripts:
  Applicants to Grades 8 through 10
  • Official transcript from each school attended with a validation seal or signature of a school official or registrar. Copies are unacceptable.
    • Entering 8th Grade: transcript from 5th, 6th & 7th grade
    • Entering 9th Grade: transcript from 6th, 7th & 8th grade
    • Entering 10th Grade: transcript from 7th, 8th & 9th grade
  • Transcript must include courses in which the student is enrolled at the time of application.
  • Standardized test scores, including state and national testing, since grade 6 must be included for entering 8th, 9th, and 10th grade applicants if not reported on the high school transcript.
  
  Applicants to Grades 11through 12
  
  • Official transcript from each school attended with a validation seal or signature of a school official or registrar. Copies are unacceptable.
    • Entering 11th grade: transcript from 8th, 9th and 10th grades.
    • Entering 12th grade: transcript from 9th, 10th and 11th grades.
  • Transcripts must include the courses in which the student is enrolled at the time of application.
  • For 12th grade applicants, official SAT or ACT score if taken (do not send the student copy).
  • Standardized test scores, including state and national testing, since grade 7 must be included for entering 11th and 12th grade applicants if not reported on the high school transcript.

  
  High School Applicants Who Are Home-Schooled
  

  • Official transcripts from each traditional school attended with a validation seal or signature of a school official.
  • A home-school transcript created and signed by the chief administrator of the home-school.  The home-school transcript must be organized by traditional academic years (9th grade (2006-07), 10th grade (2007-08), etc.) and include a course-by-course listing of course titles with letter-grades and credits earned.  Credit hours should be explained on the transcript (i.e., 1 credit = X contact-hours of instruction).  If traditional grades were not assigned, a written explanation must be included by the chief administrator.
  • Attached to the transcript should be documentation of any commercially-available curriculum programs used by the home-school for any coursework completed or in progress (e.g., Apologia® or  Keystone®) and a list of course descriptions (including topics, textbook titles/authors/publishers, and laboratories completed) for each course completed in each year of home-schooling.
  • Results of nationally-recognized standardized achievement tests taken.   
  • Home-school attendance records, as required by state law, or documentation from your state or local board of education that such documentation is not required in your state.  Attendance records are required by all N. C. home-schools.
  • Verification of your home school’s continuing compliance with state law, as required by your state, or documentation from your state or local board of education that such documentation is not required in your state.  In N. C., this verification is a copy of your acknowledgement certificate from the N. C. Division of Non-Public Education.  In other states, this documentation may be granted by the local board of education to verify a home-school’s compliance with compulsory attendance laws.

• Applicants must audition either in person or by CD or DVD recording.
• Applicants must write the date they choose to audition on the application.
• Applicants are encouraged to audition early for priority consideration for merit scholarship (see audition dates for specific information).
• Applicants are encouraged to provide all required documentation prior to their audition.
• Written confirmation of the audition date, time and location will be mailed to the applicant from the Office of Admissions after the application has been processed.
• Please allow ten working days for processing.
• Auditions will not be scheduled by phone.
• Applicants are encouraged to submit their application by the suggested deadline listed to secure the audition date desired and allow time for travel arrangements.
• If applicant has made individual arrangements with the School of Music or a faculty member the applicant should write this on the application.
• The North Carolina School of the Arts reserves the right to cancel and reschedule auditions, or make other arrangements with the applicant. If weather prohibits an audition from being held the cancellation notice will be placed on www.uncsa.edu.

The School of Music requires all candidates to audition either live or by sending an CD or DVD recording. Audition requirements for high school applicants can be found under the Audition Requirement section for their particular instrument.

Audio or Video Auditions

Auditioning in person is strongly recommended. Applicants unable to attend on-campus auditions may submit a recording of the required audition repertoire.

• Audio or video auditions must be accompanied by a completed and signed application and application fee.
• All recordings must be compatible with United States audio-video equipment DVD or CD format only.
• Recordings will be returned only if accompanied by a self-addressed and postage-paid envelope at the time of application.
• Applicants submitting recorded auditions may, in exceptional cases, be asked to come for a live audition.

For more specific audition repertoire information please contact the respective faculty.

BASSOON
• Two or three selections (including movements from sonatas and concertos)
• Major and minor scales
• Compositions should demonstrate the applicant’s ability in phrasing, sustained playing and facility

CLARINET
• Two or three selections (including movements from sonatas and concertos)
• Major and minor scales
• Compositions should demonstrate the applicant’s ability in phrasing, sustained playing and facility

COMPOSITION
The composition program provides training in the craft and art of composition, with special emphasis on form, harmony, counterpoint, scoring, technology, innovation and genrecrossing.
• Submit 3 to 4 representative scores, with recordings, at least three weeks before the requested audition date
• Selected applicants will be invited for an interview with the composition faculty on scheduled audition dates
• Applicant should be prepared to discuss his/her musical background and training, influences, and compositional interests and goals

DOUBLE BASS
• Two contrasting works. One demonstrating lyricism, and another demonstrating more virtuosic technique
• The first and second movement of a standard concerto are examples of suitable audition pieces
• Please contact Professor Sharpe if there are questions regarding specific repertoire

FLUTE
• One JS Bach Sonata
• Mozart Concerto (first movement by memory)
• One Paris Conservatoire Piece (as from the Flute Music by French Composers book – Schirmer)
• Two Standard Orchestral Excerpts (as from the Baxtresser book)
• Scales and Etudes (like Andersen op. 15 or 33)
• Mozart and one more selection to be performed by memory

FRENCH HORN
• Two or three selections (including movements from sonatas and concertos)
• Major and minor scales
• Compositions should demonstrate the applicant’s ability in phrasing, sustained playing and facility

GUITAR
• Three contrasting classical selections performed from memory
• Open position major in common keys (upper-position scales optional)
• Demonstrate the ability to sight-read in open position

HARP
• All audition requirements must be played from memory
• First movement of the Concerto in B-flat major by Handel
• First Arabesque by Debussy
• One solo from the 20th century

OBOE
• Two or three selections (including movements from sonatas and concertos)
• Major and minor scales
• Compositions should demonstrate the applicant’s ability in phrasing, sustained playing and facility

ORGAN
• One composition from the Baroque period
• One composition from the Romantic period
• A composition from the 20th – 21st centuries

PERCUSSION
• Etudes or solos (grade 5 or above) on the following: snare drum (rudimental and orchestral), timpani (2, 3, or 4 drums) and keyboard (marimba, vibes or xylophone)
• 2 mallet keyboard solo
• Demonstration on 4 mallet technique either through solo literature or at a minimum, chords and arpeggios
• A multiple percussion solo may replace the snare drum solos
• Sight-reading, timpani tuning, scales and rudiments will be part of the audition
• Drum set is optional and is not required for acceptance, but is the fourth major area of study in the high school and undergraduate program
• For questions about the specific repertoire or for high school students who do not have access to keyboards or timpani contact the percussion department.

PIANO
• All audition requirements must be played from memory
• One piece by JS Bach
• A movement from a classical sonata
• Two 19th century pieces in contrasting style
• One 20th century piece
• All scales and arpeggios

SAXOPHONE
• Two or three selections (including movements from sonatas and concertos)
• Major and minor scales
• Compositions should demonstrate the applicant’s ability in phrasing, sustained playing and facility

TROMBONE
• Two or three etudes or movements of a solo in contrasting styles
• Display proficiency on all major scales

TRUMPET
• Two or three selections in contrasting styles, including at least one solo or movement of a solo and one etude
• All major and minor scales
• Sight-reading

TUBA
• Two or three selections (including movements from sonatas and concertos)
• Major and minor scales
• Compositions should demonstrate the applicant’s ability in phrasing, sustained playing and facility

VIOLIN, VIOLA, VIOLONCELLO
• One movement from a Bach solo sonata or partita or suite, preferably from memory
• The first movement from a standard concerto (for particular instrument)
• Applicants may be asked to demonstrate ability to sight-read

VOICE
A high school applicant must be a rising junior or senior at the time of audition. All voice applicants are required to have an accompanist. The School of Music can provide one for a fee of $25, which will be collected at the time of the audition. (Do not send the accompanist fee to the Office of Admissions.)
• Arias or songs from the classical Italian repertory of the 17th and 18th centuries
• English art song from any era, i.e., Purcell, Arne, Elizabethan composers, Quilter, Vaughan-Williams, etc.
• Standard oratorio arias from the Baroque, Classical or Romantic literature
• German lieder from the Classical or Romantic periods sung in German, or English translations
• French, Spanish, Russian, or Scandinavian arts songs in the original language or English translations
• American compositions of the 19th, 20th centuries and 21st centuries, i.e., Barber, Rorem, Ives, Thompson, Copland, Heggie, Gordon, etc.
• Folk songs, written spiritual (no choral passages)
• Musical Theater selections will not be accepted as one of the three required audition pieces
• Sight-reading

Voice Applicants applying to the high school program must be entering the 11th or 12th grade to be considered for admission

All auditions are held on the campus of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Applicants check in at 8 am at Watson Hall and may expect to spend the entire day on campus. Audition times are assigned at check-in.

Brass applicants should call the School of Music at 336-770-3260 to schedule an audition. The Office of Admissions does not schedule brass auditions

Instrumental and Composition Auditions

Voice

APPLICATION

1. Complete a paper application or download an application from the following link: http://www.uncsa.edu/admissions/application.htm. 
2. Submit with the application a nonrefundable application fee of $110 payable in U.S. dollars. 
3. Checks or money orders should be made payable to NCSA. 
4. U.S. dollar checks accepted only from: Canada, England, France, Germany and Switzerland.
5. Wiring instructions are available on this link: http://www.uncsa.edu/studentaccounts/wiring%20procedures.pdf
6. Complete the Required International Student Questions.

TRANSCRIPTS

1. Course work completed at institutions outside U.S. must be submitted with a notarized or certified English translation.  An accredited foreign educational credential evaluation service may also be used. 
2.  Submit an official translation in English of courses in which the applicant is enrolled at the time of application.

TEST SCORES

1. An official SLEP score is required of all international applicants to the High School  program for whom English is not the first language.
2. The required minimum SLEP is 55. 
3. Applicants may schedule in advance SLEP testing with the NCSA English as a Second Language Teacher.  Visit: http://www.uncsa.edu/iss/esl.htm.

• Decisions concerning admission are made only after all candidates have auditioned.
• The Admissions Review Committee (the Office of Admissions, High School Academic Programs and Student Life) will review applicant files that are recommended for acceptance and make the final admission decision.
• All required documentation must be on file in order for recommended applicants to be considered by the committee.
• Notification of admission decisions will come from the Office of Admissions and will be made in writing. No decisions will be given over the phone or email.

• If submitting an online application, print, sign and mail to the Office of Admissions immediately after submitting the application the Application Agreement Statement.
• Complete and sign the Provision of Social Security Number form provided with the application.
• Complete the top section of the Mandatory Information Form, sign and give the form to your guidance counselor or college advisor. If currently not enrolled in school, the form may be given to an employer, mentor, instructor, etc.
• Signatures of family members or legal guardians will not be accepted. Form is required of ALL APPLICANTS.

• For your records keep copies of the application and all materials mailed to the Office of Admissions. Items can get lost in the mail.
• Always address materials to the following mailing address:
  Office of Admissions
  University of North Carolina School of the Arts
  1533 S. Main St.
  Winston-Salem, NC 27127
  
• Materials mailed to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts only may be distributed to other departments and delay processing of your application.